tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893692232272992952018-12-04T01:32:06.594-05:00Executive Office Center Blog about BusinessHow to succeed in business, make more money, stay motivated, outwit and outlast your competition, and scale new heights of achievementJack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-83488883490503533052016-08-09T07:54:00.000-04:002016-08-09T09:11:44.141-04:00Reaching for Gold in Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-PFkxFJrlA/ULZWcsRVJvI/AAAAAAAAAYk/6gW-Qje3bm4/s1600/Medals4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="There's plenty of room on the podium for those who reach for gold in the Games of Life." border="0" height="312" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-PFkxFJrlA/ULZWcsRVJvI/AAAAAAAAAYk/6gW-Qje3bm4/s400/Medals4.jpg" tea="true" title="We can all &quot;go for the gold,&quot; perhaps not in the Olympics, but in the Games of Life." width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's hard to watch the Olympic Games without wishing we were up on the podium, bowing to accept a medal, blowing kisses to the cheering crowd, basking in the admiration of the world.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been watching the games with my girls these past couple of weeks. &nbsp;"I want to be in the Olympics," I hear them say. They want the accolades, the grandeur, the followers on Facebook and Twitter. &nbsp;"First," I remind them, "you have to get off the couch."</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of us will never make it into the Olympic Games, but we are all contestants in an Olympic arena of sorts - that is, those of who realize we are in the game. &nbsp;The game is Life itself, and its playing fields are many.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the business arena, for example, as in sport, success begins with a dream. Qualification is much easier than in the Olympic realm. &nbsp;You form a corporation, print some business cards, and you're in the competition.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From that point, it's all a question of aspiration. &nbsp;How hard are you willing to work to achieve success? &nbsp;What sacrifices are you willing to make? &nbsp;How much are you willing to invest, both literally and figuratively? How early are you willing to get up in the morning? How many hours of training are you willing to put in every day? How many times are you willing to fail, and get up and try again? To what lengths are you willing to go? &nbsp;How much practice, how much pain, how much postponement of immediate gratification are you willing to endure?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To achieve success at the Olympic Games&nbsp;- to win a gold, silver or bronze medal - requires tremendous talent and effort and sacrifice. Only three can stand on the podium. &nbsp; But the winners' podium in Life is much larger than the one at the Olympic Games. To be sure, you can get on it. &nbsp; In the world of business, you don't have to make it to the very pinnacle to get the gold or the silver or the bronze. There's plenty of gold and silver to go around in the upper part of the triangle. </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, first you have to get off the couch. &nbsp;Then you can reach for the gold and silver that can be yours.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-44977155328344511412016-02-01T09:31:00.001-05:002016-02-01T09:36:21.781-05:00Why Is This Man Upset with the Executive Office Center?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="564" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzN0yn3Ty10/UMHwpXZCJgI/AAAAAAAAAbs/5XEdJapIhRU/s640/DWVO+(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Down with Virtual Offices!" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The&nbsp;<a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/" style="color: #4d469c; text-decoration: none;">Executive Office Center</a>&nbsp;Discourse on Business invites blog post contributions from members of the business community.&nbsp; This anonymous writer has a grievance against&nbsp;<a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm" style="color: #4d469c; text-decoration: none;">virtual office services</a>.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m not a person who likes to complain, but I think that virtual office centers like the&nbsp;<a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/" style="color: #4d469c; text-decoration: none;">Executive Office Center&nbsp;at Fresh Meadows</a>&nbsp;are unfair to commercial landlords.&nbsp; I own an office building around the corner.&nbsp; It’s always been full.&nbsp; Now I have a 30% vacancy rate because of these guys.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why?&nbsp; What did they do to you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s not what they did.&nbsp; It’s what they do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">These guys give you everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">They give you furniture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">They give you telephone service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">They give you internet service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">They pay for your gas and electric.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">They pay for your cleaning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">They pay for everything!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">I mean they even have a secretary who answers your phones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, how can I compete with that?&nbsp; I got a regular office building.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, it’s not their fault, really.&nbsp; That’s the type of building it is.&nbsp; That’s how they operate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">You think having a cafeteria in their building is fair?&nbsp; You think it’s fair to have a beautiful conference room for all the tenants to use?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know that you can rent&nbsp;<a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/" style="color: #4d469c; text-decoration: none;">Queens office space</a>&nbsp;in here on a part-time basis?&nbsp; You think that helps me?&nbsp; I mean, you don’t even have to sign a long term lease with these guys.&nbsp; They just let you use an office whenever you want one.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now is that fair?&nbsp; I’m asking you.&nbsp; That’s why I am protesting against this injustice to regular commercial building owners.</span></span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th St, Flushing, NY 11365, USA40.7390821 -73.787606640.738894099999996 -73.7879216 40.7392701 -73.7872916tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-40701496256420433322013-02-20T09:28:00.003-05:002013-03-03T16:01:01.841-05:00The Next Great Business Idea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="To work or not to work" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd-JNbOT7Hs/UNDSj2MfVCI/AAAAAAAAAis/L9xllDPamkc/s400/Thinker.jpg" width="337" /></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems to me that everyone, all over the world, is sitting around trying to think of the <b>Next Great Business Idea</b>. The reason, of course, is that every</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;week we read about another young geek&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">who has made an internet fortune, and frankly, it's getting very annoying.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you're looking to make billions, then you'd better keep thinking - and think hard, because you have a lot of competition. Apple Inc., for example spent 3.4 billion dollars a year on research and development in 2012 - and it was at the bottom of the list of the major tech companies. Microsoft spent nearly 10 billion. How much are you spending to help you think out of the box - three bucks for a bottle of Heineken?&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is good news, however, if you only want to make millions instead of billions, or lower your expectations even further &nbsp;by shooting for a few hundred thousand dollars, instead. The good news is that you don't have to think of the <b>N</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ext Great Business Idea</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> in order to make a small fortune. You can do reasonably well with The </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next Good Business </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Idea</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. You might even fare best by improving or enhancing an <b>Old&nbsp;Good Business Idea.</b>&nbsp;Or how about simply <b>Borrowing a Good Business Idea </b>from somewhere or someone else? &nbsp;That may be the surest ticket to success of all.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/">Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows</a>&nbsp;is an example of a <b>Borrowed Good Business Idea</b>. &nbsp;Some people in Queens think we invented the concept of&nbsp;<a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">virtual office services</a>, but, sadly, we did not. In fact, you can find virtual office centers in cities all over the world. There are dozens of such business centers in neighboring Manhattan, and several on Long Island, as well. However, in 2010, when the Executive Office Center opened its doors, there was not one such facility in Queens - a borough of some two and half million people. (As of this writing,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't see one in the Bronx or in Staten Island, either - so someone really ought to jump in there.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mr. Reza Satchu is one of North America's most successful serial entrepreneurs, having founded a string of multi-million dollar companies. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As his experience shows, finding &nbsp;that next big idea is simply about looking at things you experience every day from a customer's perspective, and thinking about how you can improve that experience.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In an interview last year with the Toronto Globe and Mail, he said, "Most people think to be be an entrepreneur, you have to be walking down the street and a bolt of lightning hits you and you get inspired to look at the world differently and come up with this brilliant new idea...</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would argue that most great entrepreneurs are simply able to look at everyday things in a slightly different way than others," he said.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Just walk through life for a day and think about all the things that frustrate you and write them down and what you could do to solve that problem, because, if you have that problem, then lots of other people do, too. &nbsp;And if you can solve that problem, then you'll create value and build a business."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The search for the <b>Next Great Business Idea </b>by every Tom, Dick and Harry&nbsp;reminds me of great masses who buy lottery tickets every week. There is something in common between their respective quests - utter futility. &nbsp;That bolt of lightning may strike one or two among the masses, just as one or two among the many millions will strike it rich with a winning ticket. For the myriad multitudes, however, it will be frustration and disappointment. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is another segment of the population, the ones who know better than to engage in the search for the <b>Next Great Business Idea, </b>because, as they say, and believe, "everything has been done already." This is nonsense, of course. Looking at the technological progress that has been made in the last century alone, and the increasing pace of technological discovery, one should realize that everything is yet to be done! I would say that this is the saddest group of all, because these are the ones without even the dream.</span><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Garuda, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Garuda, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com461-43 186th Street, Queens, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758900000002516.336429500000005 -115.09618300000002 65.1417625 -32.478995000000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-16955376046037374042013-01-22T09:33:00.000-05:002013-01-30T20:39:00.349-05:00Predictions for 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What lies ahead for the world of business in 2013? &nbsp;</b></span><br /><br /><div class="yog-wrap yom-art-bd" id="yui_3_5_1_20_1358690960069_207" style="background-color: white; border-top-style: none; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px -10px 20px 0px; padding: 0px; zoom: 1;"><div class="yog-col yog-11u" id="yui_3_5_1_20_1358690960069_206" style="float: none; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><div class="yom-mod yom-art-content " id="yui_3_5_1_1_1358690960069_792" style="border-color: rgb(52, 78, 127); border-top-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; zoom: 0;"><div class="bd" id="yui_3_5_1_20_1358690960069_205" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; zoom: 0;"><div class="entry-content" id="yui_3_5_1_20_1358690960069_204" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="yui_3_5_1_20_1358690960069_265" style="margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Business predictions for 2013" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMk5CIFszNg/UMCUX6SNpTI/AAAAAAAAAbM/-vmSV4xqPe4/s400/CV+(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="What's in the crystal ball for 2103" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>"I see President Obama's hair getting whiter and whiter in the coming year. &nbsp;I see <a href="http://executiveofficecenter.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-owning-stocks-is-like-having-moody.html">Apple Inc.</a> getting into the market for crystal balls that will integrate seamlessly with the internet (uh oh). &nbsp;I see history books devoting less and less space to the Mayans."&nbsp;</i></b></span></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year, there are no end of the world predictions to fret about. &nbsp;<b>The Mayans got it wrong last year</b>, which is too bad for them, because their once formidable reputation as &nbsp;advanced civilization darlings of the first millenia BCE has been badly tarnished.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Do you hear anybody talking about a double dip recession anymore?&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;Me neither. &nbsp; Despite the political dysfunction in Washington, t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">alk about a double dip recession has all but disappeared.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>There was great concern in 2012 that the Euro would collapse, and Greece would exit the European Union.</b> &nbsp;That didn't happen, thanks to the intervention of the ECB and the International Monetary Fund. &nbsp;In fact, one of the biggest market jumps in 2012 came in the Athens stock exchange, where stocks rose 33 percent!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A slowdown in the Chinese economy had everybody pretty worried for a while in 2012</b>. But China's export growth rebounded surprisingly sharply to a seven month high in December, allaying world wide concerns.</span></div><div style="line-height: 25.59375px;"></div></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Yet, no one is exactly cheering.</b> &nbsp;We've gotten past the fiscal cliff, though many feel the deal reached between the Democrats and Republicans was nothing more than a band aid - a necessary, but pathetic compromise - and the country still faces the looming debt ceiling showdown in March.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>The global economy is expected to remain sluggish in 2013,</b> with the European Alliance still in recession. &nbsp;Top Federal Reserve official Charles Evans said recently that the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a rate of 2.5 percent - a far cry from the 4.2 percent growth grate the Obama administration had originally projected. &nbsp;The unemployment rate remains elevated at 7.8 percent, and employers are showing little inclination to begin hiring again.&nbsp;Nevertheless, a quiet optimism has emerged as the various threats of global economic catastrophe have receded.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>There is a wide consensus that emerging markets will outperform the U.S. stock market in 2013</b>. Adam Shell, writing in USA Today, also sees an improving economy in western Europe, which has been aided by bond buying by the ECB. &nbsp;The European Central Bank gave the European Union a big boost last year, when it offered to buy unlimited debt of heavily indebted countries such as Spain and Italy. Mr. Shell believes that U.S. stocks will notch an all time high, but that U.S. stocks with foreign exposure will fare better than those that are United States centric.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Byron Wien, Vice Chairman and a senior adviser at Blackstone</b> predicted last year that the S &amp; P would close over 1400. &nbsp;The index, in fact, ended the year at 1,426, representing a gain of 13.4 percent for the year. &nbsp;However, while many others are predicting new highs for the S &amp; P in 2013, Mr. Wien expects the index to test 1,300 again before climbing back to just about where it finished at the end of 2012. &nbsp;But, like many others, he is optimistic about stock markets in some other countries, especially China and Japan. Mr. Wien predicts a 20 percent gain this year for Chinese shares.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Bill Gross, the highly regarded bond manager of Pimco's giant Total Return Fund</b>, last year predicted a good year for tax free municipal bonds, which he called a "deserted" asset class. &nbsp;He was right. &nbsp;The Total Return Fund returned over 10 percent in 2012. &nbsp;But Mr. Gross is less enthusiastic about the prospect for healthy returns from municipal bonds in 2013. &nbsp;"I'm afraid there are going to be ashes in our stocking this year," he said. &nbsp;"The juice has been squeezed out of the orange."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>What's in store for the housing market in 2013?</b> &nbsp;Karl Case, who helped create the widely cited Case-Shiller Index of housing prices feels that there are lot of reasons to be optimistic, going into the new year. According to Mr. Case, 2012 will probably go down as the year that residential real estate prices hit bottom and began to rise again. However, he is careful to point out that the recovery isn't going to knock anybody's socks off. &nbsp;"We're cheering because we got to 800,000 housing starts. That's still weak. It only looks good because we dug ourselves into such a deep hole." But Mr. Case says this year would be a good time to buy. &nbsp;"There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic, but cautiously so."</span><br /><div itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><div itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><b>Remember the mad rush to buy gold in the early part of 2012? </b>At the beginning of the year, e</span><span style="line-height: normal;">veryone was betting that the price of gold would break $2,000, including Maria Bartiromo and Jim Cramer. However, in</span><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp;the final quarter of 2012, after everybody finally climbed on the band wagon, gold prices posted their worst quarterly performance in more than four years, falling more than five percent.&nbsp;</span><b style="line-height: normal;">What's ahead for gold in 2013?&nbsp;</b><span style="line-height: normal;">With the global economy tipped to recover in 2013, analysts are forecasting the end of the 13 year bull run for the metal.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: normal;">T<b>he massive surge in gold prices in the early part of 2012 and the sharp decline in the last quarter brings to mind the great Apple bull run of 2012 - which also ended with massive exodus from the stock, driving its share price from a high of $706 to a shaky range just above $500.</b>&nbsp; Last year, Mashable predicted that "the year of Apple, Inc. is at hand. &nbsp;Apple will release a triumvirate of products, including a super slim edge-to-edge screen iPad 3, the long awaited iPhone 5 and an Apple TV...which will seamlessly integrate with the internet." &nbsp;Many analysts predicted that the stock would reach $1,000 per share.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><b>Nevertheless, Mark Rogowsky, writing in Forbes says that 2013 is the year in which Apple bears get skewered.</b> &nbsp;He says, "look for a cheaper iPhone (around $400 to carriers), faster product refreshes to become the norm (as with the 4th generation i Pad), and a deal with China Mobile later in the year. &nbsp;CEO Tim Cook makes explicit that the company is unwilling to cede the global market-share to Android and instead will compete as vigorously abroad as it does in the U.S., where iPhone share remains strong. &nbsp;Apple ends the year at $800. And he adds, "Oh, and it might be the safest stock to own right now."</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span><b style="line-height: normal;">In the world of entertainment:&nbsp;</b><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp;According to Forbes, Wall Street predicts that the second installment in the Hunger Games series - <i>Catching Fire</i> - will be the "biggest blockbuster of the year." &nbsp;I loved the Hunger Games trilogy. &nbsp;But that's not why I'm rooting for Jennifer Lawrence over Kristen Stewart of the Twilight series. &nbsp;She seems less likely to cheat on her boyfriend and sleep with her director.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><b>Finally, <a href="https://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226/about">Jack Blumner</a>, Executive Director of the <a href="http://xecutiveofficefm.com/">Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows</a>, believes that the virtual office business model will continue to attract small companies in droves</b>. "Increased confidence will bring businesses back into the market for office space, but they will be seeking less risk and greater profitability by avoiding the high costs associated with traditional office space," And, he adds, "the Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows will continue to provide the most economical rental platform in the the borough of Queens."</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="columnGroup first" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 7px; width: auto !important;"><div class="articleBody" style="margin-bottom: 1.7em; margin-top: 1.5em;"><br /></div></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th Street, Queens, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758900000002516.336429500000005 -115.09618300000002 65.1417625 -32.478995000000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-14693484264115041842012-12-21T11:42:00.000-05:002013-04-11T22:10:20.632-04:00The Thanks We Owe to Winter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--syAfNAyGtU/ULTIz0SWNrI/AAAAAAAAAYA/l152NXYPWgg/s1600/Winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="The qualities that allowed us to survive the ice ages of Europe are the same ones that allow us to compete and achieve in the world of business." border="0" height="246" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--syAfNAyGtU/ULTIz0SWNrI/AAAAAAAAAYA/l152NXYPWgg/s400/Winter.jpg" tea="true" title="Winter has played an important role in the development of the human race." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"The evolutionary advantage to compete and succeed in the world of business</span></span><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;as in the world at large - that is the thanks we owe to the ice age winters."</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No where in the annals of history, except for a few rare instances, do we find the people of the southern regions of the world marching north to attack the civilizations of the higher latitudes. &nbsp;We don't see the Africans leaving their continent to rape, pillage and plunder the Europeans. &nbsp;We don't see the peoples of the Mediterranean pushing northward to subjugate the civilizations of the colder climes. &nbsp;What we see is just the opposite, a consistent onslaught of people from the north against people of the south. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to historians, Will and Ariel Durant, the raiders were inevitably "Nordic"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;Scandanavians, Sythians, Baltic Germans, Englishmen, and Anglo Saxons, and</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>one or another of these fair-haired, blue-eyed "blond beasts" swept down through Russia and the Balkans into the lazy and lethargic South in a series of conquests marking the dawn of recorded history."</i></b><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even in our own land in our own time did the industrial North go to war against the plantation South, and defeat them.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is it about the northerly latitudes that have made us such aggressive and unilateral victors over our neighbors to the south? &nbsp;Historians of less enlightened ages have argued that the matter is one of racial supremacy. But that argument is easily put to rest by the advanced Mayan, Aztec and Incan civilizations of pre-Columbian America, and other B.C. overachievers in the middle East and southern Europe.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If not race, what then is responsible for this incredible record of domination of the northern peoples over equatorial ones? &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer may very well be our winter clime. Winter presented a fiercely challenging environment to our early ancestors and all the civilizations that preceded industrial society. &nbsp;Imagine what life must have been like for early man during the ice age, huddling in caves of northern Europe against the unyielding barrages of winter. &nbsp;Here in New York and New Jersey, millions of have been living in cold dark caves once again, after being battered by Hurricane Sandy, so it's not too hard to imagine.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The human species responds to challenge and adversity by adaptation - both physical and social - and winter appears to have honed our survival skills, hardened us against our most dangerous and deadly foe, namely, the environment. &nbsp;If you can become master over &nbsp;the forces of nature, it's easy to go an conquer your neighbors, and thus we have done.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The qualities that allowed us to survive against the European winters of the ice age are still within us. &nbsp;Human beings are equipped with "instincts" to preserve the individual, the family, the group, or the species. &nbsp;Some of these characteristics, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">such as pugnacity, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">greed and hoarding, are no longer necessary for physical survival, but they have made it natural for </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">us to battle each other in the realm of business. &nbsp;There is no</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;longer any need to hoard food for the barren winter months, but how far removed from that is the desire to hoard cash. &nbsp;The ferocity that enabled us to stand our ground as we were buffeted by wind, snow and rain, now allows traders to stand and outshout each other on the tumultuous floor of the New York Stock Exchange. &nbsp;The spark of ingenuity within us that led to the innovation and development off new tools and weapons for survival, lead us today to develop new technologies. &nbsp;The evolutionary advantage to compete and succeed in the world of business as in the world at large - that is the thanks we owe to the ice age winters.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #caeefb;"></span><span style="background-color: #caeefb;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></blockquote></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com161-43 186th St, Queens, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737584000000005 -73.790056499999992 40.740608 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-34880799733684958462012-11-05T10:58:00.001-05:002013-01-25T06:20:00.040-05:00Work and Happiness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpkW5cd9is4/UKZEKk9Dd3I/AAAAAAAAAVc/VBtFBNEb6ew/s1600/WORK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Evidence suggests that the happiness we seek is to be found, not at the top of the ladder, but in the climb, itself." border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpkW5cd9is4/UKZEKk9Dd3I/AAAAAAAAAVc/VBtFBNEb6ew/s320/WORK.jpg" title="When it comes to the pursuit of happiness, most of the happiness is found in the pursuit." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evidence suggests that the happiness we seek is to be found, not at the top of the ladder, but in the climb, itself.</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happiness is an elusive thing in success driven <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>, which, according to common knowledge is the most neurotic state in the union. &nbsp;There are many rungs on the idiomatic ladder to success, and for every one we climb, another often seems to appear at the top. Those who decry the futility of the rat race say that happiness is to be found by getting off the ladder. Perhaps that's true for some. &nbsp;But for many - in fact probably most - evidence suggests that the happiness we seek is not to be found at the top of the ladder, but in the climb, itself.</span><br /><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Note the words of King Solomon, written over 2,000 years ago:<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: red;">&nbsp;</span><i>I applied my mind to...discern which is best for mankind to do under the heavens during the brief span of their lives. &nbsp;I acted in grand style: I built houses, I planted vineyards; I made for myself gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit tree...I acquired stewards; I also owned more possessions, both cattle and sheep, than all of my predecessors in Jerusalem; I amassed even silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and the provinces; I provided myself with various musical instruments, and with every human luxury - chests and chests of them…</i>(<span style="color: red;">here it comes</span>)&nbsp;<b><i>Indeed, my heart drew joy from all my activities, and this was my reward for all my endeavors.</i></b><span style="color: red;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Carlin Flora, writing in<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><u>Psychology Today</u>&nbsp;("The Pursuit of Happiness," January 1, 2009) says that "getting what you want doesn't bring lasting happiness." She says that "happiness lies in the chase." She says: "Action toward goals other than happiness makes us happy. &nbsp;Though there is a place for vegging out and reading trashy novels, easy pleasures will never light us up the way mastering a new skill or building something from scratch will. &nbsp;<b><i>And it's not crossing the finish line that is most rewarding; it is anticipating achieving your goal."</i></b><br />&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thomas Jefferson is credited with having authored the famous words of the Declaration of Independence.<b style="font-style: italic;">&nbsp; </b>"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Liberty</st1:place></st1:city>and the<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><b><i>Pursuit of Happiness.</i></b>" Gretchen Rubin, author of<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><u>The Happiness Project</u><span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>agrees that when it comes to the pursuit of happiness, most of the happiness is to be found in its pursuit. &nbsp;She writes, "<b><i>First of all, by the time you've arrived at your destination, you're expecting to reach it, so it has already been incorporated into your happiness."</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b>If you're an investor in stocks, you're probably acquainted with the old adage, "Buy the rumor; sell the news." &nbsp;The reason is found in Ms. Rubin's explanation. &nbsp;Stocks usually run up in anticipation of an event, such as the introduction of a new product, and when the event occurs, the stock sells off. &nbsp;The stock price of Apple, Inc., has generally followed this pattern in connection with the introduction of its Iphone and Ipad products. &nbsp;Buying the rumor equates with striving to reach a goal; selling the news equates with reaching the goal. By the time you've arrived at the anticipated announcement (the goal), the value has already been incorporated into &nbsp;the stock's price (happiness). &nbsp;What usually follows is a sell off, which is the disappointment people often experience when reaching a goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Illustration by Rebecca Church</div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com461-43 186th St, Queens, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.733080500000007 -73.7974595 40.7451115 -73.777718499999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-84826960709055771742012-10-04T20:29:00.000-04:002013-01-18T09:41:58.947-05:00How Albert Einstein and Virtual Offices have Changed the Way we View Time and Space<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0l6TmtiMXR0/ULZVvnKObYI/AAAAAAAAAYU/5yCr-_TJbRw/s1600/EINSTEIN1%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Einstein changed the way we look at time and space; virtual office services changed the way we look at time and space, too." border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0l6TmtiMXR0/ULZVvnKObYI/AAAAAAAAAYU/5yCr-_TJbRw/s400/EINSTEIN1%5B1%5D.jpg" tea="true" title="What do virtual office services and Einstein's theory of relativity have in common?" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During the course of the last two thousand years, science has dramatically changed the way we view and understand time and space. &nbsp;For the better part of this period,&nbsp;the civilized world subscribed to the Ptolemaic, or geocentric model of the universe, which placed the earth at the center of the solar system. &nbsp;In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus, stood the world on its head, with his introduction of a heliocenteric model - placing the sun at the center of the universe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since then, we've been shaken up a good deal more than that. Scientists now tell us that space and time were born some 13.7 billion years ago, with the big bang. &nbsp;Far from being at the center at the universe, our solar system, along with everything else in the cosmos, is moving with great speed away from its original point of origin.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Albert Einstein, with his Theory of Special Relativity, helped us understand why we don't have to hold on to our chairs while we go hurtling through space. &nbsp;Actually, no one in the world understands this, save for a few&nbsp;mathematicians of the same rank, but he made it digestible for us simple folk.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Imagine, he said, that we are standing on the ground, watching an airplane sail across the sky. &nbsp;It appears to move slowly. However, if we were standing on a cloud right next to it, it would appear to rush past us at tremendous speed. &nbsp;Yet, the people inside the plane hardly feel as if they are moving at all.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the good old days, we used to think of space as something finite, measured by length, width and height. &nbsp; Einstein threw in a fourth dimension - time. &nbsp;Einstein perceived that space around mass was actually curved. &nbsp;And that's not all. &nbsp;Time, as it turns out, is not linear at all. &nbsp;It actually slows down as you approach the speed of light. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enough about Einstein, however. &nbsp;In the last twenty years, there has also been a re-conceptualization of time and space in the universe of commercial real estate. &nbsp;Fortunately this revolution in is much less abstract. Once we believed that an&nbsp;<a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/">office space</a>&nbsp;could only be leased by a single entity for a prescribed period of time. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This idea has been replaced by a <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">virtual office</a> model, which allows multiple tenants to coexist simultaneously in the same space. &nbsp;The Queens NY office building now known as the <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/">Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows</a> was once home to First Choice Real Estate - a single tenant - for over twenty years. Now, the same space is the professional business address of over 150 different companies. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This doesn't have anything to do with space being curved or time being relative. &nbsp;It merely allows multiple tenants to utilize the same space at different times.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lot of business owners here in <a href="http://everythingunder1roof.com/links.htm">Queens New York</a> and elsewhere - people who work out of their homes, for example - are not familiar with the concept of virtual offices. &nbsp;They may associate the world <i>virtual</i> with ethereal or intangible. &nbsp;But the space and services provided by the Executive Office Center and other office business centers are very real, and very inexpensive. They include personalized <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">Queens telephone answering</a>, telephone and internet service, Queens mailbox rental, access to ready to use office space and conference rooms, and much much more. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In just two decades, the concept has spread across the globe, and can be found in every major metropolitan center in the world. It is such a practical and cost effective alternative to traditional office space, it is just a matter of time before it changes the rental marketplace forever.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-91198078474935446122012-09-19T22:12:00.000-04:002013-01-25T06:21:51.240-05:00Read This to Become A Millionaire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKhs8klc7qU/ULZWVnK2CMI/AAAAAAAAAYc/bZMGNSGm5tk/s1600/MONEY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="What's the best way to make a million dollars - by disciplined savings or following your heart and guts? This blog gives you the answer." border="0" height="376" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKhs8klc7qU/ULZWVnK2CMI/AAAAAAAAAYc/bZMGNSGm5tk/s400/MONEY.jpg" tea="true" title="How to Make a Million Dollars" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's the best way to make a million dollars - by disciplined savings or following your heart and guts? &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I love all the advice on the internet on how to become a millionaire. After sorting through the scores of online articles and blogs, you'll discover that they fall into two basic categories, the Disciplined Savings Approach and the Follow your Heart and Guts Approach. &nbsp;Of course, you can go straight to Go by marrying into wealth, but be mindful of the Scottish proverb, "Don't marry for money, you can borrow it cheaper."&nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />The Disciplined Savings method is illustrated by the blogs about the "miracle" or "magic" of compound interest. &nbsp;First, start with the foolish premise that your money can earn 10% a year, as do many of the articles on this subject.<span style="color: #990000;"> (The annualized return for U.S. large-company stocks (as represented by the Standard &amp; Poor's 500-stock index) for the past 80 years has been about 10%, not including taxes).&nbsp;</span>So, naturally<span style="color: #990000;">, say your goal is to build a nest egg of $1 million by the time you are 55. &nbsp;If you start at age, 24 and invest $5,000 a year at an annualized return of 10%, you'll reach your goal. </span><span style="color: blue;">&nbsp;</span>Of course!&nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Or, similarly,<span style="color: #990000;"> take &nbsp;5 bucks a day, and put the money in a stock mutual fund that gives you 10% interest on average. </span>Easier said that done, of course, but guess what? <span style="color: #660000;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #990000;">In 42 years, you'll have a million dollars! &nbsp;</span></b></span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say that Albert Einstein (allegedly) called compound interest the eighth wonder of the world. &nbsp;I'm glad he was a theoretical physicist and not a financial adviser. &nbsp;The problem with this approach is that the tedium is sure to kill you before you reach your goal. &nbsp;Only an automaton could execute a plan like this.&nbsp;</span></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other approach is about following your dream, pursuing your passion - ideally in the form of a business. (You can start with a <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/">virtual office</a>&nbsp;at the Executive Office Center to save money). This approach sounds dangerously naive, and it has probably gotten more than one fool into a lot of trouble. The reality is that the dream has to be combined with a good deal of zealotry and fortitude. &nbsp;A lofty vision is a good start. But you have to follow up on the vision with &nbsp;obsessive devotion to the cause. &nbsp;You have to close your ears to the naysayers, and forge ahead. &nbsp;Working like a dog is very helpful. &nbsp;Postponing immediate gratification is essential. Some people are held back from achievement by negative thought processes, so pop psychologists have some cliched suggestions for you like<i>&nbsp;Get out of your own way</i>&nbsp;and<i> Give yourself permission to succeed. &nbsp;&nbsp;</i></b></span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing for certain is you are not going to become a millionaire merely be reading this blog. &nbsp;Knowledge may be power - but the energy in knowledge is latent, like the power inherent in an atom. &nbsp;To release the power in the atom, you have to split it. &nbsp;To release the money-making power in an idea, you have to execute it. Good luck.</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>To read a more comprehensive and wonderful blog on this sujbect, try Michael Brain's <i>How to Make Million Dollars.</i></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com161-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-13503565608008904192012-07-08T14:52:00.001-04:002013-05-20T08:43:00.606-04:00Is a Virtual Office a Real Office?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">&nbsp;</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13uRftx3pOY/UL9WKaPcenI/AAAAAAAAAak/O3lyqLefZwQ/s1600/real3+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="A virtual office is something close to be being a real office. It allows for the temporary use of office space on an as need basis." border="0" height="272" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13uRftx3pOY/UL9WKaPcenI/AAAAAAAAAak/O3lyqLefZwQ/s400/real3+(1).jpg" title="Is a virtual office a real office?" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I like the definition of the word, "virtual" in the Merriam-Webster Learners Dictionary. It defines it as "very close to being something without actually being it." That, in essence, is the definition of a virtual office. A </span><a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">virtual office</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> is something very close to being an office, without actually being one.</span></span></h4><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not something ethereal or intangible like the concept of virtual reality. We don't put you to sleep and plant a subliminal notion in your mind that you have an office, where you can hang out at the water cooler with gorgeous members of the opposite sex. There are things that are real and there are things belong in the realm of fantasy. We're talking about something real, functional, and utterly practical.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/">Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows</a>, located in Queens NY, a virtual office is an office that you can use on on as-need basis. It's not an office that you can move in to and decorate. The offices are already decorated. You can bring a picture of your family, and place it on the desk while you work, if you like. You can use one of our offices for an hour, for a day, for a week - whatever you need - and pay for it by the hour. Prospective tenants of the Executive Office Center have a range of <a href="http://queensvirtualoffices.com/ServicePlans.php">virtual office service</a>&nbsp;packages&nbsp;to choose from, as well. You can see them online at: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of our tenants use our office suites as a place to meet clients. These rooms are usually used for meetings with individuals or two to three people. If you need to meet with a larger group, &nbsp;you can use the Executive Conference Room, which seats twelve around the table. We have about forty attorneys who regularly use our offices, and nearly ten psychotherapists, as well. The other tenants of the Executive Office Center are mostly small businesses and non-profit organizations. All of our tenants are featured on our consumer website: &nbsp;</span><a href="http://everythingunder1roof.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://everythingunder1roof.com/</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can you use the Executive Office Center as a regular business address? Of course. A listing of your business is placed in the lobby, along with other tenants and virtual tenants of the office building. You can use the address on your stationary, and as a reference location for Google and other search engines. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can you use the office to receive mail? Yes. At the Executive Office Center, you get your own secure mailbox. Even better than that, we'll receive your packages, Fed Ex envelopes, and even call you if it looks like something important. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Having a virtual office (or a <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/full.htm">serviced office suite</a>) at the Executive Office Center is better than having a regular office in a lot of ways. You don't have the burdensome fixed costs associated with a traditional office space. You also don't pay for for internet service or telephone use. At the Executive Office Center, it's on the house.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And there are other significant benefits as well. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have a receptionist who can provide you with personalized telephone answering. You have to pay for it, of course - but not much. One thing for certain is that it's much less expensive than hiring a personal receptionist. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our receptionist also courteously greets your clients when they come into the office building.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Additionally, there is a beautiful cafeteria, where you can have lunch, watch TV, grab a cup of coffee, or enjoy a snack or a can of soda from one of the vending machines.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And let me add one more thing about the aforementioned Executive Conference Room. It is equipped with a 46" wide screen HDTV, ideal for videoconferencing and/or business presentations. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, is a virtual office a real office? It's real, alright. &nbsp;In many ways, it's better than a real office. And it's a real deal for anyone who comprehends its exceptional value.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com961-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-16612043994519248822012-06-06T08:28:00.000-04:002013-01-02T08:56:54.909-05:00Virtual Offices are Unfair to Commercial Building Owners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzN0yn3Ty10/UMHwpXZCJgI/AAAAAAAAAbs/5XEdJapIhRU/s1600/DWVO+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Virtual office services provide fully furnished office space. They offer telephone service. They give you internet service. They pay for your gas and electric. They pay for everything! How can traditional building owners compete?!" border="0" height="355" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzN0yn3Ty10/UMHwpXZCJgI/AAAAAAAAAbs/5XEdJapIhRU/s400/DWVO+(2).jpg" title="Virtual offices are unfair to traditional commercial building owners!" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/">Executive Office Center</a> Discourse on Business invites blog post contributions from members of the business community.&nbsp; This anonymous writer has a grievance against <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">virtual office services</a>.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m not a person who likes to complain, but I think that virtual office centers like this new company, the <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/">Executive Office Center&nbsp;at Fresh Meadows</a>&nbsp;are unfair to commercial landlords.&nbsp; I own an office building around the corner.&nbsp; It’s always been full.&nbsp; Now I have a 30% vacancy rate because of these guys.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why?&nbsp; What did they do to you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s not what they did.&nbsp; It’s what they do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">These guys give you everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">They give you furniture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">They give you telephone service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">They give you internet service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">They pay for your gas and electric.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">They pay for your cleaning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">They pay for everything!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">I mean they even have a secretary who answers your phones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, how can I compete with that?&nbsp; I got a regular office building. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, it’s not their fault, really.&nbsp; That’s the type of building it is.&nbsp; That’s how they operate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">You think having a cafeteria in their building is fair?&nbsp; You think it’s fair to have a beautiful conference room for all the tenants to use?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you know that you can rent <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">Queens office space</a> in here on a part-time basis?&nbsp; You think that helps me?&nbsp; I mean, you don’t even have to sign a long term lease with these guys.&nbsp; They just let you use an office whenever you want one.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now is that fair?&nbsp; I’m asking you.&nbsp; That’s why I am protesting against this injustice to regular commercial building owners.<a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">http://www.executiveofficefm.com/</a><a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/"> </a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com461-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-45260508763561469692012-05-16T14:08:00.001-04:002013-01-18T09:43:36.860-05:00Working with Normal People<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R828dtAIJxY/UMH1a6ysFFI/AAAAAAAAAcE/sha3ljALPPg/s1600/2Copier_copy+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Be grateful for the normal people in your workplace, but never forget that there arev villains, maniacs, impostors and fruitcakes beneath some of those calm exteriors." border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R828dtAIJxY/UMH1a6ysFFI/AAAAAAAAAcE/sha3ljALPPg/s400/2Copier_copy+(1).jpg" title="Don't take your good fortune for granted, if you work with or for normal people" width="400" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is truly a blessing when the people for whom you work, or the people with whom you work, or those who work for you – are normal.&nbsp; Most of us take reasonable behavior for granted, just as we take for granted our sight, our hearing and the use of our arms and legs.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We shouldn’t take these good and decent souls for granted because there are lunatics amongst us.&nbsp; There are villains and maniacs, impostors, fruitcakes, and thieves lurking behind the most pleasant exteriors.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve had both kinds of experiences in my thirty-five years in business.&nbsp; For the most part, I’ve been very fortunate.&nbsp; I’ve had a wonderful and trustworthy assistant for twenty-seven years, and the great majority of the people with whom I have worked have fallen within the broad parameters of what we would call normal.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But there are those who would lure you into a sexual harassment suit.&nbsp; There are those who would attempt to steal your employees while you’re on vacation.&nbsp; There are those who will kill you by stealth, others by laziness and stupidity, and others by sheer maliciousness.&nbsp; There are lots of people out there who are genuinely nice, but have a faulty moral framework.&nbsp; This kind of person believes that it’s okay to cheat as long as you don’t get caught.&nbsp; Here’s where you have to watch your office supplies.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It isn’t always apparent that someone is a nut.&nbsp; You discover the fact in increments sometimes.&nbsp; That’s when you’re lucky.&nbsp; They betray themselves with a comment or a minor departure from the norms with which we relate to each other. &nbsp;There are others, who are truly mad, who will flare up like a supernova, in a single moment of fury, vaporizing any evidence of the normalcy that preceded it.&nbsp; Consider yourselves fortunate when that happens, too –&nbsp;unless the person throws something at you. &nbsp;But all too often, we discover the evil done to us as a fait accompli – after someone has stolen from you, whether it be cash or information or personnel, or has left you in a state of chaos by either negligence or design.&nbsp;</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you think about it, it is surprising that we are able to work with each other with such a high degree of cooperation.&nbsp; But never forget that anarchy lurks not too far beneath the surface.&nbsp; Be grateful for the reasonableness, but bear it ever in your mind that, while you’re taking too long at the copier, the guy behind you could be fraying at the edges.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></b></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-66405578474997910162012-04-17T09:30:00.004-04:002013-01-21T11:53:03.763-05:00Virtual Office Business Model Becoming an Attractive Alternative to Traditional Office Space in Queens NY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h2> </h2><div class="myp"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q632fqQEiZ8/UMH5tJ4WvVI/AAAAAAAAAcU/ImiaXQjSL0c/s1600/new+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows is a great place for Queens professionals to work. It offers two economical alternatives to traditional office space, serviced office suites and virtual office services." border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q632fqQEiZ8/UMH5tJ4WvVI/AAAAAAAAAcU/ImiaXQjSL0c/s400/new+(3).jpg" title="The Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows is the premiere virtual office center in Queens" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm" title="">Virtual office</a>services and serviced office space are quickly becoming a favored alternative to traditional <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/" title="">office space in Queens</a>, <st1:state w:st="on">New York.</st1:state><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/" title="">Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows</a> , which opened in October of 2011, is the first such office center to open in the borough of <st1:place w:st="on">Queens</st1:place>, and has already attracted over one hundred tenants and virtual tenants!<br /><br />I am a personal believer in the virtual office business model for small businesses. &nbsp;It’s such a practical and cost-effective alternative to traditional office space, it is just a matter of time before it changes the office rental marketplace forever.<br /><br />The borough of Queens, NY, is a latecomer to the virtual office concept. &nbsp;It's somewhat surprising, considering the fact that the idea has been around for a while, and that it's such an important component of the marketplace for office space in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Manhattan</st1:place></st1:city>. I believe that the economy of <st1:place w:st="on">Queens</st1:place>, which consists primarily of small businesses, makes the virtual office model particularly relevant.<br /><br />Over 100 companies have joined the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Queens</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Executive</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Office</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> since it opened last year. Nearly 40% of the firms are attorneys. &nbsp;They are the ideal candidates for this type of office space. A lot of them don't really need full time office space, just a place to meet an occasional client. We have quite a few social workers and accountants, as well. But the rest of the companies span the professional and entrepreneurial spectrum from environmental consultants to real estate brokers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="myp"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This past week, the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Executive</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Office</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> was joined by the Law offices of Heath Goldstein &amp; Caitlin Donahue, Expert Elevator Corp, Best Senior Home Care, the Eilav Law Firm and Lynx Electrical Corp.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;">When I started out in business 35 years ago, I wish I could have opened an office in </span><st1:place style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;" w:st="on">Queens</st1:place><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;"> for $39/month and look like the consummate professional! With the advent of virtual offices, you can make it appear as if you have already conquered the world!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;">Why is this man upset with the Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VqGRMa6U4m0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com1461-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-69387182964778727102012-01-10T13:26:00.000-05:002013-01-18T09:44:24.852-05:00Predictions for 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMk5CIFszNg/UMCUX6SNpTI/AAAAAAAAAbM/-vmSV4xqPe4/s1600/CV+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Predictions from business leaders about what they can expect in 2012" border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMk5CIFszNg/UMCUX6SNpTI/AAAAAAAAAbM/-vmSV4xqPe4/s400/CV+(1).jpg" title="Predictions for 2012" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>The ancient Mayans </b>believed that world would come to an end in late December, 2012.<b>&nbsp; Nostradomus</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">&nbsp;also predicted the destruction of the planet in 2012, as a result of natural disasters and a collision with another planet.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But don't worry<b>. Antonio Vazquez, the “Great Wizard” of </b><st1:place style="font-weight: bold;" w:st="on"><st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country></st1:place></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> says the theories of doomsday in 2012 are “big fat lies.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blackrock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK), </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">the world’s largest asset manager, does not foresee the end of the world in 2012, either. &nbsp;In fact,&nbsp;<b>Chief Equities Strategist for Blackrock, Bob Doll, </b>predicts that <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country>equities will experience a double-digit percentage return in 2012, the European debt crisis will begin to ease, and that <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">China</st1:country>and <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country>will contribute to more than half of the world’s economic growth, despite slowing growth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Vice Chairman of Blackstone Advisory Partners, and former senior strategist for Morgan Stanley</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> predicts that the economy will finally take off in 2012, with GDP accelerating at 3% and unemployment falling below 8%.&nbsp; He also predicts that the price of oil will drop to $85/barrel, and the S &amp; P will surge over 1400.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bill Gross, manager of Pimco’s $252.2 Billion Total Return Fund</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">, offers a much gloomier outlook for 2012, if not an end of the world scenario. &nbsp;He believes that the world has too much debt, and says that investors should lower their expectations for 2012, predicting 2 to 5% returns on investments in stocks, bonds and commodities.&nbsp; He is betting on tax-free municipal bonds in 2012, an asset class he calls under-valued, owing to scare headlines about municipal bankruptcies and threatened defaults.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">According to Mashable</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">, the year of Apple, Inc. is at hand.&nbsp; “Apple will release a triumvirate of products, including a super slim edge-to-edge screen iPad 3, the long awaited iPhone 5 and an Apple TV…whch will seamlessly integrate the internet.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Brad Bannon, US News and World Report, </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">predicts that President Barack Obama will narrowly defeat Mitt Romney in the presidential election. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The AccuWeather.com Long-Range Forecasting Team</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> predicts a brutally cold and snowy winter for a large part of the country. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> says that 2012 is the year that conventional retailers will really begin to feel the heat from E-tailers.”Electronics and clothes are going to be the real pressure point.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Writing on the American Express website, Small Business Speaker and Consultant, Barry Moltz, offers good news for small business owners.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">&nbsp; He writes that, “after four years, frugality fatigue has hit consumers as demonstrated by the higher than expected holiday sales numbers…The macro economy is no longer stopping any small business owner from growing their own business.&nbsp;&nbsp; It is time to give up that excuse.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Will gold break $2,000 in 2012?&nbsp; Maria Bartiromo says: “</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">I would probably bet gold does break $2,000.&nbsp; The fact is there is so much economic and political uncertainty in the world…people want save havens.&nbsp; <b>Jim Cramer agrees:</b>&nbsp; “Gold will exceed $2,000 in 2012 because the European Central Bank will have to print euros to bail out so many countries and raise the value of gold as a version of the world’s reserve currency.&nbsp; Gold will be a terrific performer once again.” &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">Jack Blumner</a>, Executive Director of the <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">ExecutiveOffice Center at Fresh Meadows</a>, </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">believes that the office center will double its current roster, and end the year with within range of 200 tenants/virtual tenants.&nbsp; “Increased confidence will bring small business owners back into the market for <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">office space</a>, and the <st1:placename w:st="on">Executive</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Office</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype>at Fresh Meadows provides the most economical rental platform in <st1:place w:st="on">Queens</st1:place>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-90349832434555841972011-12-12T08:24:00.000-05:002013-01-18T09:44:42.965-05:00Make It A December to Remember!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u3G5A9tVb8g/TuYLm0BJa4I/AAAAAAAAAFE/nTp4xX_fZv0/s1600/first+choice0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="real estate Queens" border="0" height="330" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u3G5A9tVb8g/TuYLm0BJa4I/AAAAAAAAAFE/nTp4xX_fZv0/s400/first+choice0001.jpg" title="First Choice Real Estate" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once First Choice Real Estate reigned as the top residential real estate brokerage in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on"><a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">Queens</a> County</city>, <state w:st="on">NY</state></place>.&nbsp; Realtors believe, self-fulfillingly, that the beginning of the Christmas shopping season ends all commerce except for retail.&nbsp; Knowing that our competitors in the real estate industry usually began to surrender this time of year, we always tried to animate our sales force in December with motivational speakers and events.&nbsp; December was often one of our best months!</span></span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Your perceptions – not the state of the economy, the time of year, or any other external factor – can be the greatest barrier to your success. Think that you can, not that you can not, and make it a December to remember!</span></span></b></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-60363929281916784312011-10-17T12:42:00.003-04:002014-10-13T14:36:21.898-04:00Business Advice From King Solomon The Wise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDggPUemYNA/UMCR9fpUQ8I/AAAAAAAAAbE/_jJrCLYukVE/s1600/KS1_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="In the book of Kohelet, know to English readers as Ecclesiastes, King Solomon offers solid business advice." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDggPUemYNA/UMCR9fpUQ8I/AAAAAAAAAbE/_jJrCLYukVE/s400/KS1_copy.jpg" height="400" title="KIng Solomon was the wisest man of all. He is the author of the book of Kohelet, in English, Ecclesiastes, a sober examination of man's life on earth." width="355" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Every fall, during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, Jewish tradition calls for a reading of the book of Kohelet – a canon of Jewish Scripture known to English readers as Ecclesiastes.&nbsp; Kohelet was authored by King Solomon, reputed to be the wisest of all men, whose reign over the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">kingdom</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Israel</placename></place> some 3,000 years ago was the pinnacle of ancient Jewish civilization. &nbsp;</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The words of Kohelet have had a great many modern day admirers. &nbsp;</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The great 20<sup>th</sup> century novelist, Thomas Wolfe, called it “the greatest single piece of writing I have ever known, and the wisdom expressed in it the most lasting and profound.”&nbsp;</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The song “Turn, Turn, Turn (to Everything There is a Season),” introduced by Pete Seeger in 1962 and further popularized by the Byrds in 1965, and then by Bob Dylan, was directly lifted from the Book of Kohelet.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was Kohelet who said, “There is nothing new beneath the sun,” but I wonder if he would have come to the same conclusion if the king had beheld an Iphone.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The book of Kohelet is a very sobering examination of life.&nbsp; Its message is ultimately a religious one – “the sum of the matter, when all has been considered:&nbsp; fear G-d and keep his commandments, for that is man’s whole duty” -- but along the way, he offers some sage advice for business owners.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Two are better than one, for they get a greater return for their labor.&nbsp; For should they fall, one can raise the other; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and there is no one to raise him.”</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“A lover of money will never be satisfied with money; a lover of abundance has no wheat…Sweet is the work of the laborer, whether he eats little or much; the satiety of the rich does not let him sleep.”</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s a good one:&nbsp; “Do not say, ‘How was it that former times were better than these?&nbsp; For that is not a question prompted by wisdom.” (In other words, just get over it.)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The toil of fools exhausts them, as one who does not know the way to town.”&nbsp; (A traveler could be guided properly were he to ask directions.&nbsp; Conversely, the fool persists in his folly to the point of exhaustion, because he refuses to consult with the wise and seek proper guidance.)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“One who watches the wind will never sow, and one who keeps his eyes on the clouds will never reap…In the morning sow your seed and in the evening do not be idle, for you cannot know which will succeed: this or that; or whether both are equally good.” (Financial advisers would call this diversification.)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And here’s a message for us all:&nbsp; “Enjoy life with the wife you love through all the fleeting days of your life that He has granted you beneath the sun, all of your futile existence; for that is your compensation in life and in your toil which you exert beneath the sun. “</span></b></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com161-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-72769490966188064972011-09-21T10:47:00.002-04:002013-03-07T20:01:45.069-05:00How Owning Stocks is Like Having a Moody Girlfriend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4R9hVF6nRE/UP2np4r2buI/AAAAAAAAAw0/bR_-MCzHxVE/s1600/Apple+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4R9hVF6nRE/UP2np4r2buI/AAAAAAAAAw0/bR_-MCzHxVE/s400/Apple+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They both hold the promise of great returns.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both can take you to great highs and terrible lows.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At times, you can be fooled into thinking they are predictable. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When they are good, they are good; when they are bad, they are very bad.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are times when you can’t take your eyes off them, so tantalizing are their movements.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They can make your heart race with excitement and at other times with fear and consternation.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In both, you may often find resistance.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Neither may be reliable when it comes to support.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With both, there may be periods of elation, but they are matched by times that will disappoint.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They can both lull you into a false sense of security.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They can both be foul in the morning, and turn around completely by the end of the day.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conversely, they can be most agreeable in the early hours, and utterly wrathful in the later ones.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may try to understand their behavior, and when you think you do, they will act differently!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They may at times offer you a steady climb upwards, and at others a period of prolonged descent.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When their fundamentals are sound, you should try to endure the temporary disappointments, which are inevitable.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes, you will want to ditch them; sometimes you should.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both require you to act with discipline.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both can lead you to drink.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both can cost you your life savings.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com161-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-11450221797515829652011-08-23T10:37:00.002-04:002013-01-21T11:49:57.505-05:00Coop/Condo Market In Queens Is Buzzing!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://images.neighborcity.com/images/01/18/7c/b8.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Queens’ pre-eminent coop/condo specialist, Anne&nbsp;</span></b><br /><b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Donohue, of Anne Donohue Realty, informs us that contrary to widespread reports in the media that the real estate market is dead, the coop/condo sector in <place w:st="on">Queens</place> is still very much alive.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ms. Donahue says:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">&nbsp; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There is always activity in market for coops and condominiums because the preponderance of purchasers in this sector are first time buyers.&nbsp; First time buyers in their 20s and 30s are part of the buyer pool that never goes away.&nbsp; Young people are always getting married or moving in together.&nbsp; Single people leave their lives at this stage to strike out on their own.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What changes to influence demand is pricing and inventory.&nbsp; We are presently in a market with an overabundance of inventory.&nbsp; Because of this, there is a great deal of competitive pricing.&nbsp; This has created excellent opportunities for buyers, and for serious sellers.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are definitely in a market in which there is a strong case for buying.&nbsp; Inventory is well priced.&nbsp; The prices for 1 bedroom units in northern <place w:st="on">Queens</place> range from as low as $149,000 to $170,000.&nbsp; These are being snapped up quickly if they are properly priced.&nbsp; The 2 bedroom units are going for anywhere from $189000 to $249,000.&nbsp;&nbsp; Prices have come down quite a bit over the course of the last six months.&nbsp; The most active part of the market is the new listings and the price reductions on the existing listings. </span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anne has advice for buyers:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">&nbsp; Buy!&nbsp; Rates on a 30 year fixed-rate mortgage were at their lowest in 50 years last week, averaging 4.15%&nbsp;&nbsp; Fifteen year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.36% last week, down from 3.5% the week before, and 3.9% a year ago.&nbsp; We advise our clients to analyze the numbers.&nbsp; At this stage of the game, it definitely makes more sense to buy as opposed to paying rent.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anne also cautions buyers now to make low offers on properties that are priced to sell, because they may not get a chance to make a second offer<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">&nbsp; Properties are moving well when the seller is informed about market conditions, and asking prices are realistic.&nbsp; We are even seeing bidding wars on units priced to go.&nbsp; The demand is definitely there.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anne has advice for sellers, as well:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp; We may be at or near a price bottom now, but there is so much inventory on the market, that it will take a while prices to rebound.&nbsp; Listen seriously to good offers.&nbsp; If the market continues to falter, you may not see them again soon.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anne Donohue is one of the most experienced co-op/condo specialists in <place w:st="on">Queens</place>, with 25 years of experience, and over 2700 units sold!&nbsp; Visit Ann online at <a href="http://www.annedonohue.com/">http://www.annedonohue.com/</a>.&nbsp; You can reach her by email at <a href="mailto:annereal99@aol.com">annereal99@aol.com</a>.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com161-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-30235720834151296762011-07-28T10:05:00.000-04:002013-01-21T11:51:53.614-05:00The Value of a Good Assistant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="343" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5rvxrjq6CA/UMZ8vaJEfXI/AAAAAAAAAeM/zgFOouiFW84/s400/Smithnotext.jpg" width="400" /></div><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On Friday evenings as we begin the evening meal that ushers in the Sabbath, it is customary to sing a poem/song (<i>Eshet Chayil</i>) to the woman of the house that begins as follows:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">An accomplished woman, who can find? </span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Far from pearls is her value</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Her husband’s heart relies on her and he shall lack no fortune.</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Judaism has it right here.&nbsp; The wife gets her due, as she rightly should, a serenade sung to her by the entire family.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As we usher in the workweek, however, there are no such songs in our cultural or national heritage for our valued and beloved assistants.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mary Abrams, the estimable Associate Director of the <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">Executive Office Center</a></span>, suffices with, “Good morning.&nbsp; How are you?&nbsp; How was your weekend?&nbsp;&nbsp; I could sing to her, I suppose, but at the risk of having a pencil thrown at me.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mary was only sixteen years old when my brother hired her as a part-time receptionist for our former real estate company, First Choice Real Estate.&nbsp; Today, twenty-six years later, (it could actually be twenty-seven), she is married, and the mother of three children.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I asked Mary recently to give me a suggestion for my next blog. “Write about me,” came her retort.&nbsp; She was joking, of course, but her reply contained the knowledge that she is as relevant to the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place> Discourse on Business as any other subject I may choose to write about. And the fact is, she is right.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mary has been with us for so long that it would be natural to take her for granted.&nbsp; She probably thinks that we do, but every day, I am guided by her natural intelligence and her unerring intuition, and am newly impressed by her devotion and resourcefulness. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mary played a critical role in the success of First Choice Real Estate, and she is the heart and soul of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;It is only a matter of time before she becomes the executive steward of this company.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mary proofs everything that I write. She tells me what’s good, and what isn’t, what belongs and what doesn’t, what is great, and what will get me into trouble.&nbsp; This will have to pass her scrutiny, too.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Such is the value of a good assistant.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><strong></strong></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com261-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-7040372423521427842011-07-02T16:34:00.000-04:002012-12-18T15:38:41.300-05:00The Friday Before a Holiday: To Work Or Not To Work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd-JNbOT7Hs/UNDSj2MfVCI/AAAAAAAAAis/L9xllDPamkc/s1600/Thinker.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="To work or not to work" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd-JNbOT7Hs/UNDSj2MfVCI/AAAAAAAAAis/L9xllDPamkc/s400/Thinker.jpg" title="" width="336" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here I am once again, in my office at 7:00 a.m. on a Friday before a holiday weekend, crunching numbers, assessing my progress, developing strategies to help me stand out from the competition.&nbsp;There was no traffic on the Long Island Expressway this morning – going west that is – just me and a couple of other shmendricks driving away from the sun.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An American Robin, by coincidence or by providence, has just landed on the hurricane fence that surrounds the rear yard of my office, carrying nesting material in his beak.&nbsp; He jerks his head nervously in all directions, scanning the environment for predators, seeking more nesting material or perhaps a good worm.&nbsp;&nbsp; Now, here’s a creature I can relate to, up early, building a nest for his family, cognizant and ever watchful of dangers in his environment.&nbsp; He’s not going to the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hamptons</st1:place></st1:city> for the weekend.&nbsp; He has a family to protect and feed.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am not complaining about being here at the office today, while others are headed toward pleasure.&nbsp; The quiet and stillness before an impending holiday removes the urgency of an ordinary business day, and lends clarity to the mind.&nbsp; It’s a wonderful time to think and plan.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know that my phones will be relatively quiet today, but past experience has taught me that I’m likely to get a good call.&nbsp; Pre-holiday Fridays, it seems, bring out the customers with the most urgent need.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The robin that arrived outside my window before by such timely coincidence has now flown off.&nbsp; His tiny brain understands the imperatives of survival that many people seem to miss. &nbsp;I'm sure he's not chirping&nbsp;“Ah, there’s no point in working today.&nbsp; Everybody is already in holiday mode.” &nbsp;He's chirping, "It's another day. &nbsp;Gotta get on with it. &nbsp;Maybe we'll barbecue on Sunday." &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-67904324358695249472011-06-29T12:27:00.001-04:002013-01-21T10:55:50.917-05:00Virtual Office Services Ideal for Home Based Businesses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNavJblXzTg/UP1k8j9uc0I/AAAAAAAAAwU/jnnefcplrj0/s1600/Executive+Office+Center+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNavJblXzTg/UP1k8j9uc0I/AAAAAAAAAwU/jnnefcplrj0/s400/Executive+Office+Center+030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thousands of <place w:st="on">Queens</place>’ business owners commute to work every morning by taking the stairs down to the basement or to another area in the house designated as a home office.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Every year, an increasing number of entrepreneurs choose to work out of their homes, some out of preference, but most out of economic necessity. The recession has forced millions of small business owners to cut back on rent and overhead expenses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There are a great many benefits to working at home, most notably, the cost savings.&nbsp; Foregoing a traditional <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/">Queens office space</a> allows you to save on rent and associated overhead expenses.&nbsp; Additionally, you save on gas, on child care, and a myriad of other costs involved with operating a business out of a rented office space. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Another great benefit is the flexibility it offers you to tend to the needs of your family, especially if you have young children.&nbsp; You can pick up the kids at school, and get them started on their homework.&nbsp; You can also get the chicken into the oven at 4:00 p.m.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Though the advantages to working at home are numerous, there is a downside, as well.&nbsp; What to do you do when you need to meet with a client?&nbsp; Do you really want to meet with clients or customers in your home?&nbsp; In your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">basement?</i>&nbsp; Some home based entrepreneurs opt to meet clients at public hubs such as Starbucks.&nbsp; That may work once or twice, but is not a solution for the long term.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Another downside to working in the house is the temptation to do the laundry or get sidetracked by other household chores.&nbsp; Your kids can also be a distraction just at the moment that you get an important call.&nbsp; That has happened to me on more than one occasion, especially when my children were very young.&nbsp; They seem to demand your attention just as you pick up the phone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Fortunately there is a solution for home based businesses in need of a professional facade.&nbsp; It is called a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">virtual office</a></i>.&nbsp; The concept of <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">virtual office services</a> began to take shape about twenty years ago as an outgrowth of the executive suite industry.&nbsp; An <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/index.htm">executive suite center</a> offers offices that are furnished, and equipped for telephone and internet use.&nbsp; They often have a receptionist to meet and greet clients and answer telephones for the tenants.&nbsp; Personalized answering services make it appear as if you have your own personal secretary.&nbsp; There is usually a common conference room available for scheduled use, a cafeteria, copy center, and other office amenities.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A virtual office allows you to take advantage of these services on an a la carte basis.&nbsp; Perhaps you only need an <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/full.htm">office suite</a> or conference room once or twice a week to meet an occasional client.&nbsp; Or maybe you need use of a conference room to make a presentation before a group.&nbsp; Some executive suite centers offer high quality videoconference services, as well.&nbsp; Or maybe you just need to get out of the house and into an office environment a few days to a week in order to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel </i>more professional.&nbsp; Whatever you need, <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">virtual office services</a> are often available from the provider in customizable form.&nbsp; You pay for your use of the office facility on an as need basis.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In sum, virtual office services allow you to maintain a professional appearance without the cost of maintaining a full time office.&nbsp; It is not surprising that though the office rental market is still reeling from the effects of the financial downturn that began in 2008, the virtual office industry has continued to grow.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">See why this guy is upset with Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows in Queens NY</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VqGRMa6U4m0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com261-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-69575369940910977022011-06-01T12:09:00.000-04:002013-01-29T15:59:30.740-05:00When the Bell Rings, Come Out Fighting!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TpCBr612kC4/UQg3wrbCf7I/AAAAAAAAA4M/cpaARn5J0Jc/s1600/boxing1+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TpCBr612kC4/UQg3wrbCf7I/AAAAAAAAA4M/cpaARn5J0Jc/s400/boxing1+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Get ready for a lickin'</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When it comes to business, I like to think of the annual fight for profitability as a ten round boxing match. The opening bell rings in the early morning hours of January 2.&nbsp;&nbsp; I’ve learned, as a mature fighter learns, never to come out flailing wildly in the first round.&nbsp; I’ve never won by a technical knockout in January, but by the accumulation of points throughout the ten rounds of the year.&nbsp; The first round is for the implementation of my business plan, and the assessment of prevailing economic conditions.&nbsp; I dance around the ring, looking for opportunity. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Presidents Week gives us a chance to go back to our corners, and have our shoulders massaged.&nbsp; But the second round of the fight is usually for minor adjustments only.&nbsp; In the northeast, winter weather is a big factor.&nbsp; Advertising is a puny weapon against two feet of snow.&nbsp;&nbsp; When I can’t bring customers in through the door, I do the things necessary to bring them in at a later date.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Round three has a variable start date – somewhere between mid March and the beginning of April, when there is a noticeable thaw in the weather.&nbsp; &nbsp;As the weather warms, there is always a corresponding increase in phone calls.&nbsp; &nbsp;As buds begin to appear on the trees, customers begin to come out of hibernation.&nbsp; Now is the time to charge into the ring and take command of the fight.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Just as we are getting into a groove, G-d demands our attention with the holidays of Passover and Easter.&nbsp;&nbsp; Round 4 begins after spring vacation.&nbsp; I am in my corner by 7:00 a.m., loosening up, anxious to get back into the ring, and reestablish my rhythm.&nbsp; This is the time of year when prospects seem most receptive.&nbsp; I’ve had four months to get a feel of the market, and figure out what’s working and what is not.&nbsp; I go with what’s working.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, marks the beginning of Round 5.&nbsp; Round 5 is an important round.&nbsp; The snow is now a distant memory, and the torpor of summer has not yet set in.&nbsp; This is the time to move in on my opponent and hurt him.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Independence Day, Round 6:&nbsp; Thank G-d we are not in <place w:st="on"><country -region="-region" w:st="on">France</country></place>, where people take off all summer.&nbsp; What’s with those Europeans, anyway?&nbsp; Remember when the nations of <place w:st="on">Europe</place> ruled the world?&nbsp; What happened to all that ambition?&nbsp;&nbsp; Patience is necessary during the summer months.&nbsp; Some people are on vacation.&nbsp; Where everybody else is, I don’t know.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Labor Day, Round 7:&nbsp; Labor Day is one of my favorite holidays. Man, do I love that Tuesday after Labor Day.&nbsp; People are ready to do business again in the fall.&nbsp; It is merely my job to identify and attract them.&nbsp;&nbsp; I jab with my right, hook with my left, hammer away at the body, uppercut to the chin.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Jewish New Year, Round 8:&nbsp; No sooner have we got our rhythm back, here comes G-d again to remind us that our success in life is not merely dependent on the fight, but the observance of His Laws.&nbsp; Business activity in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place> all but ceases between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.&nbsp; After atoning for my sins, I return to the ring with a vengeance, knowing that the Christmas shopping season is just around the corner, that 30 day period when the department stores become the locus of the <place w:st="on">Bermuda</place> Triangle.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp;We pause on Thanksgiving to give thanks for the bounty G-d has given us.&nbsp; A lot of people eat so much on Thanksgiving, they can hardly get out of their corners for Round 9 of the fight.&nbsp; They believe, self-fulfillingly, that the beginning of the Christmas shopping season ends all commerce, except for retail.&nbsp;&nbsp; Knowing that my competitors in the real estate industry usually began to surrender this time of year, I have always tried to animate our sales force in December with motivational speakers and events.&nbsp; </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The final round of the year is fought in the week immediately preceding Christmas.&nbsp; Not everybody is shopping for presents, certainly not all of the time.&nbsp; I’m looking for that one or two people who have finished shopping, or those who are waiting till the last minute.&nbsp; This year I’m not giving an inch to the economy.&nbsp; I will be in the ring, bobbing and weaving, feinting and jabbing, swinging away till the last moment.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-34145122247030232862011-05-16T15:43:00.001-04:002013-01-18T09:45:46.666-05:00One Queens Office Building Does More Than Offer Space For Rent. It Offers To Help Its Tenants Make More Money.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gO-vTPDbQ64/UNDIy5ShORI/AAAAAAAAAic/b3Y8wKMVGBc/s1600/LEDSign006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="The Executive Office Center wants its tenants to succeed, so much so, that it even helps market and advertise for them." border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gO-vTPDbQ64/UNDIy5ShORI/AAAAAAAAAic/b3Y8wKMVGBc/s400/LEDSign006.jpg" title="The Executive Office Center at Fresh Meadows offers an innovative alternative to to professionals seeking office space in the borough of Queens." width="400" /></a></div><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"></placename></place><br /><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><br /></placename></place><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1837709717">Executive</a></span></placename><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/"> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></a></span></place><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> owners, Steven and <a href="https://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226/posts?utm_source=bk&amp;utm_medium=ha&amp;utm_campaign=plusgeneralb2c&amp;gclid=CMWi08Lb_rACFUXc4AodfHccDQ&amp;utm_term=%2Bgoogle%20%2Bplus">Jack Blumner</a> may have hit upon a novel idea when they opened their state-of-the-art business center in the fall. The brothers, former owners of First Choice Real Estate, once the top selling residential brokerage in <place w:st="on">Queens</place>, are not merely landlords.&nbsp; They are actively engaged in helping their tenants make more money.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since opening in October, <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/">the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place> at Fresh Meadows</a> has attracted 50 tenants and virtual tenants, including seventeen attorneys.&nbsp; “We’re right on schedule,” says Executive Director Jack Blumner, who expects that number to double by the end of the year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The <placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype>, offering <a href="http://www.executiveofficefm.com/full.htm">serviced office suites</a> and <a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/virtual.htm">Queens&nbsp;virtual office services</a>, is the first such business center to open in the borough of <place w:st="on">Queens</place>.&nbsp; There are scores of executive suite office centers in <city w:st="on">Manhattan</city> and Long Island, but none until now in the densely populated borough of <place w:st="on">Queens</place>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Executive suite centers typically offer a menu of administrative services to their tenants, but supplementing these services with marketing support elevates the concept of serviced office space to a new level.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jack and Steven Blumner are no strangers to marketing.&nbsp; In the 1990s they made their company, First Choice Real Estate, a household name in <place w:st="on">Queens</place> by sending out millions of pieces direct mail to homeowners in the borough.&nbsp; Now they are using the World Wide Web to help accomplish their objectives.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What they have done is to develop two consumer websites to help promote and facilitate business for their tenants, as a value added benefit.&nbsp; The two websites are <a href="http://www.everythingunder1roof.com/"><span style="color: purple;">www.everythingunder1roof.com</span></a> and <a href="http://www.queensforless.com/"><span style="color: purple;">www.queensforless.com</span></a>.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.everythingunder1roof.com/"><span style="color: purple;">www.everythingunder1roof.com</span></a> is a business directory of the <placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype> at Fresh Meadows tenants that shortcuts the customer’s hunt for business and professional services in <place w:st="on">Queens</place>. &nbsp;&nbsp;There are presently 50 companies affiliated with the office center.&nbsp; In time, there will be several hundred, says Mr. Blumner, “and we want <place w:st="on">Queens</place> consumers to know that they can find virtually everything they need right here under one roof.”</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.queensforless.com/"><span style="color: purple;">www.queensforless.com</span></a> offers coupon discounts for Queens neighborhood stores and restaurants, while featuring the professional and business services of the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place>’s tenants. &nbsp;&nbsp;Consumers are lured to the website by attractive retail discounts.&nbsp; Once there, they also find the many different professional and business services offered by tenants of the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place>.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tenants of the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place> are also featured on the 16 foot LED display that faces the busy parking lot of the Fresh Meadows shopping center.&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype> is the perfect place for attorneys and other solo professionals and small companies doing business in the borough of <place w:st="on">Queens</place>.&nbsp; It is ideal for companies that need a branch or satellite office in the borough.&nbsp; The <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Center</placetype></place> is also the closest office business center to JFK and LaGuardia airports.&nbsp; Business travelers to <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York</place></state> may wish to take advantage of the building’s close proximity to the airports.&nbsp; Day suites and conference rooms are available at hourly, daily and weekly rates.&nbsp; </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com261-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-75561843494731532942011-05-02T10:51:00.000-04:002013-04-06T23:00:48.249-04:00Sweeping the Sidewalk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CGpmRLV7620/UMH0pDBurgI/AAAAAAAAAb8/TudU473f8Ws/s1600/Sweepingleaves+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="In Sweeping the Sidewalk, the author remembers his father on Holocaust Remembrance Day" border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CGpmRLV7620/UMH0pDBurgI/AAAAAAAAAb8/TudU473f8Ws/s400/Sweepingleaves+(1).jpg" title="Sweeping the Sidewalk is a thoughtful remembrance of a holocaust survivor" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remembering my father with each push of the broom</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I like to sweep the sidewalk in front of my office building.&nbsp; It reminds me of my father.&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the broom flicks up the dust and leaves that seem to gravitate toward the entrance to the building every morning, I recall the dust clouds that my father’s push broom would launch, as he swept up his building site at the end of each day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I could delegate this particular task to the company I pay to clean my office building every day, but I haven’t, and I believe that this is the reason.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is fitting for me to remember my father in the words of this blog, because he and my mother were survivors of that most infamous period in the history of mankind.&nbsp;&nbsp; My mother survived the death camps by the grace of G-d.&nbsp; My father survived the war in the woods in <place w:st="on"><country -region="-region" w:st="on">Poland</country></place> for two and half years, through a combination of grit, cunning, iron will, and fortitude. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My parents met and married at the end of the war and arrived in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place> aboard the SS Marine Flasher on May 28, 1948.&nbsp; Their first stop in the <country -region="-region" w:st="on">America</country> was <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Pittsburgh</city>, <state w:st="on">Pennsylvania</state></place>, where my father worked in a mattress factory for relatives.&nbsp; After six months, they made their way to <state w:st="on">New York</state>’s lower <place w:st="on">East Side</place>.&nbsp; My father told me that when he told his relatives of his decision to go to <state w:st="on">New York</state>, they said to him, “But you will get lost in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place>.”&nbsp; To which my father replied:&nbsp; “If I didn’t get lost in the woods for two and a half years, I won’t get lost in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place>.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place>, my father graduated from making mattresses to making table pads, then went on to a series of jobs in the food business.&nbsp; He bought a luncheonette in <place w:st="on">Brooklyn</place>, and learned Spanish from a pocket guide, while he was still struggling to master English.&nbsp; One day, a construction project across the street from the luncheonette, caught his attention.&nbsp; Every day, he went outside to watch the construction.&nbsp; Then, as legend has it, he went out and bought a set of architectural plans for a house for $50, and began his career as a builder. &nbsp;Afterwards, he built homes in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New Jersey</state></place> for 40 years, until we had to retire him at the age of 75.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back to sweeping the sidewalk:&nbsp; My father once told me that being a Jew in <place w:st="on"><country -region="-region" w:st="on">Poland</country></place> during the years of World War II was “like being nothing.”&nbsp; “A dog’s life had more value,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But my father withstood the brutality of that nefarious regime with his mind and body, and dignity intact.&nbsp; And he survived in <place w:st="on"><country -region="-region" w:st="on">America</country></place> as he survived in the woods, meeting every challenge that faced him, doing whatever it took to survive.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like many children of Holocaust survivors, I have often asked myself the question:&nbsp; Would I have survived?&nbsp; Two and a half years outdoors in the cold, without food or shelter.&nbsp; Would I have had the physical strength, the wits or the guile?&nbsp; Probably not.&nbsp; No, definitely not.&nbsp; That’s why, with each flick of the broom, I say, “I’m like you, pops.&nbsp; I’m sweeping, too.”</span></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com261-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-40795501904348740222011-04-15T12:45:00.000-04:002013-01-21T11:27:37.622-05:00Should Prayer be Part of a Business Plan?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-voqKBh6gPBU/UG8LB2ToIAI/AAAAAAAAAz4/iDNGBJMEyAs/s400/PrayingGuy.jpg" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have been asked on occasion, before undertaking a new business initiative, if I have obtained the blessing of a Rabbi.&nbsp; Here in the secular, material post-modern western world, this is not question to which most people can relate, especially in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Manhattan</city></place>, where voodoo has more credibility than G-d.&nbsp; This is not a sermon, by the way, just some thoughts about whether or not prayer should be a component of a business plan, along with advertising, marketing, networking, etc.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are religious in the observance of the secular commandments that are essential to our success in business.&nbsp; We go to networking events.&nbsp; We use Facebook and Twitter to help make our websites socially relevant.&nbsp;&nbsp; I’m 57 years old, and suddenly I find myself “tweeting” to an audience, even writing a blog.&nbsp; We must pay homage to the secular god of our day and age, Google, in order that we may land on the sacred first page of web searches for our services. &nbsp;Does it not also make sense to ask the true G-d of the universe to help us comprehend the mystery of Google’s algorithms, and help us achieve our business goals?&nbsp; It doesn’t if we don’t believe in Him.&nbsp; It doesn’t if we believe that after creating the world, He deserted his post.&nbsp; It does, if we believe that He is within each of us, guiding the destiny of the world and of all living things. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 4;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In order to seek out the blessing of a Rabbi or spiritual leader of another faith, you have to first believe that obtaining such a blessing would in some way be effectual.&nbsp; In the Jewish faith, some figures of particularly righteous character are believed to be capable of channeling G-d’s good will upon another.&nbsp; Years ago, people would stand on line for hours to obtain the blessing of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the famed Lubavitcher Rebbe.&nbsp; We learn from the Torah that even the blessing of an ordinary man, even a thief and a scoundrel can be beneficial.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most people that I know believe in G-d, but their ideas about the subject are very fuzzy.&nbsp; Since G-d is an abstraction, most people do not relate to Him/Her in a concrete way, except through formal prayer, in synagogue and in church, and other houses of worship. &nbsp;Most American Jews to not take a proactive role in prayer.&nbsp; They rely on defense.&nbsp; They go to synagogue once a year, (if they go at all), on the ominous Day of Atonement, Yom&nbsp; Kippur, to ask&nbsp; forgiveness for their transgressions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Jewish religion also affords an individual an opportunity to ask for G-d’s blessing, in the form of ritualized prayer, three times a day.&nbsp; There is an optional prayer that one may insert in each prayer service that relates specifically to livelihood.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I recall a cartoon I once saw in a magazine of a man pleading with G-d to make him a lottery winner.&nbsp; It showed a large dark cloud in the sky above him.&nbsp; A zigzag lightning bolt emanated from the cloud along with a booming heavenly response:&nbsp; “At&nbsp; least buy a ticket.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That’s the message of this muse.&nbsp; If we want G-d to grant us success in business, perhaps we should consider buying the ticket.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy holidays to all.</span></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89369223227299295.post-75675443931708661432011-04-01T09:38:00.000-04:002013-01-21T11:34:34.492-05:00NYC: What Counts Here is the Not the Color of Your Skin but the Quality of Your Work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><img height="313" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tkn58GTPTdQ/T0ZdwW1WXyI/AAAAAAAAAoE/8fwnEge5c8Y/s400/Business-Men-Shaking-Hands.jpg" width="400" /></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I recently made the acquaintance of a tutor, who is a native of <place w:st="on">Trinidad</place>.&nbsp; He told me that he had relocated to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Atlanta</city></place> some years ago, but found it hard to make a living there.&nbsp; “The first thing people would ask me,” he said, “is where do you worship?” The answer to that question often determined whether or not he got the job he was seeking.&nbsp; After struggling for a few years, he moved back to <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place>.&nbsp; “Here people don’t care about the color of your skin, or what religion you practice,” he told me.&nbsp; “They care about the quality of your work.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The other day, I sought to help one of the tenants of the <place w:st="on"><a href="http://executiveofficefm.com/"><placename w:st="on">Executive</placename> <placename w:st="on">Office</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Cente</placetype>r at Fresh Meadows</a></place>, who is Muslim, with a personal referral.&nbsp; I am a yarmulke (skull cap) wearing orthodox Jew.&nbsp; He told me of the work he had done for the late Rabbi Wolf of the Great Neck Synagogue, and of other Jewish organizations that had engaged his services.&nbsp; He said to me, “It’s too bad that everybody can’t come to <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place> for a lesson in how to live and work with people of all faiths.”&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mr. Singh, my telecommunications consultant for over twenty-five years is a Sikh.&nbsp; He wears a turban.&nbsp;&nbsp; Since arriving in the <country -region="-region" w:st="on">United States</country> at the age of 17, he has always lived and worked in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place>.&nbsp; He doesn’t advertise and has never advertised because his reputation precedes him.&nbsp;&nbsp; He also believes that <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place> offers a level playing field for all races, creeds and colors. “No one is out of place in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">New York</state></place>,” he said.&nbsp; Then, he added, with a laugh, “except possibly the descendents of the original colonists.”&nbsp; The only time he ever felt threatened by prejudice was just after 9/11.&nbsp; “People were scared.&nbsp; They looked at me, and all they saw was my turban,” he said.&nbsp; “It didn’t last long,” he added, “and it didn’t cost me any work.&nbsp; People always judged me on the basis of my ability and expertise.”&nbsp; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I, too, remember my days as the co-owner of First Choice Real Estate, Inc.&nbsp; First Choice was a microcosm of the borough of <place w:st="on">Queens</place>, which, with its population of 2.3 million people is the most culturally diverse county in the Untied States.&nbsp; The agents included such disparate nationalities as Chinese, Koreans, Russians, Irish, Greeks, Indians, Israelis, and spoke a cumulative total of twenty-one different languages.&nbsp;&nbsp; There was often bickering among the agents, but it was like the bickering of my children. What I remember most about them was not the differences between them, but the family they constituted.</span></div></div>Jack Blumnerhttps://plus.google.com/118046110116913639226noreply@blogger.com061-43 186th St, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365, USA40.739096 -73.78758940.737592000000006 -73.790056499999992 40.7406 -73.7851215